Social movements of all kinds have burned brightly for a few years, only to fade and disappear. But early Christians and others who followed, would not recant. They were filled with confidence that God had raised Jesus from the dead. And on the basis of this reality, ordinary men, women and children faced torture and flames at the stake!

Persecution and the threat of death can never squelch God’s promises to His people, His grace to the righteous and the accomplishment of His ultimate will. Because of the faithful steadfastness of Christians in the past, you and I have the gospel today.

And it will take that kind of confidence in the challenging days ahead!